The world is moving to digital interaction formats, so the IT industry constantly needs new specialists. But how to find your calling here, to do what you really like, and to provide yourself with a job not only now, but also in the next 10-20 years? We tell you about the most promising areas and skills that will definitely come in handy for the rock stars of the technology world.

1. 5G

This is not just fast mobile communication: 5G networks are becoming the foundation of global systems of the Internet of Things (IoT). With their help, devices will be able to exchange data independently in real time, and the world will become more “connected” and intelligent – with unmanned transportation and smart cities. Developing these technologies will require many IT professionals with expertise in different industries.

5G networks will provide data transfer at speeds up to 100 Gb/s and minimal delay. With their spread, cars will be able to continuously send information about what is happening around to the server and receive commands for autonomous control. And industrial production will become smarter and safer: for example, at coal mines, operators will be able to control dumping robots thousands of kilometers away. Thanks to the developers of the new networks, systems ranging from computer games and virtual reality to medicine will be able to efficiently exchange information without human involvement. And people will become more focused on do my homework and professions that will never be replaced by machines.

Even if in the future 5G will be replaced by new, more modern standards, they will somehow be based on the principles of their predecessors. It is important for IT professionals in this field to constantly learn from emerging technologies and approaches to keep skills relevant.

2. AI

Artificial intelligence is now in almost every smartphone. Voice assistants can briefly tell the main news, joke, determine the emotional state of a person, and answer tricky questions. Image recognition automates medical analysis and recognizes the right face in a crowd of people. And intelligent modeling allows testing new drugs without synthesizing them in laboratories, predicting natural disasters, and improving traffic patterns.

The scope of AI will only expand: from bots in call centers to intelligent optimization of energy distribution in cities and unmanned drones that perform various tasks. To implement such solutions, more and more specialists are required. And the development of artificial intelligence is one of the most highly paid areas in IT: smart solutions can reduce company costs and increase profits by several times.

To work in AI, first of all, you need knowledge of linear algebra, mathematical analysis, probability theory and statistics. Often young professionals start with courses in data analysis (Data Analytics) and then move on to machine learning systems. Then you can choose a field to specialize in. But there is no shortage of them – machine learning and deep learning algorithms solve almost any problem where big data analysis is needed better than a human. For example, convolutional neural networks analyze MRI scans and diagnose them more accurately than experienced doctors.

You can also do reinforcement learning, which is reinforcement learning, a type of machine learning. These are algorithms that teach agents, including bots, how to interact with the environment and give rewards for successfully completing tasks. 

3. IP

Network technologies are designed to provide fast access to the Internet from anywhere: from the bottom of the ocean, from a mountaintop or from outer space. Today’s applications require next-generation solutions. For example, the emergence of 5G and cloud technology has accelerated the digitalization and intellectualization of various spheres of life. As workloads grew, so did the scale and complexity of the Web.

Today, the IT industry needs specialists who optimize data transmission methods and channels. They also deal with cybersecurity, data encryption, and increasing the speed and stability of Internet connections. With the launch of such projects, there will also be new protocols that will make it easier for people and devices on Earth and beyond to communicate. And network specialists will have to ensure decent communication quality, respond to changes, and learn and implement new technologies.

Networks are the foundation that every IT professional should master. Knowledge of these technologies will allow you to build a mechanism in your head that will open up the world to other areas. With them, you can set up the network infrastructure at the ISP or go into more complex areas like network security.

The networking specialist at any stage has to memorize a lot of information: from the difference between OSI and TCP/IP protocols to much larger models. It’s not easy and it takes a lot of time, but it’s the only way to get anything done. 

Now networks are moving in the direction of simplifying the transfer of data from devices. To do this, for example, they came up with MPLS technology for the rapid transmission of information through special labels. But few people know how to work with new technologies, so specialists and retraining programs are needed here.

4. Cloud

IT giants launch and improve cloud platforms and make them available to millions of companies and individuals around the world. Rental capacity in the cloud allows you to quickly process large amounts of data without updating the office servers. In addition, such systems provide reliable information protection and are flexibly scalable – they have no capacity limits.

To become an expert in cloud solutions, it’s worth starting with a study of networking technologies. Here, an understanding of how networks function and a basic knowledge of Linux are required. The rest of the experience can be gained directly from working with cloud solutions and virtualization systems.

5. APP

The popularity of mobile applications continues to grow because for many, the smartphone is the key way to interact with the world. There is a special program for almost any occasion. For example, using the application, you can determine the ripeness of a watermelon by sound, use a smartphone as a range finder, building level or even a dosimeter, take a picture of a mathematical problem and get a ready-made solution.

There are programs for virtual chemical experiments, “trying on” tattoos, choosing the best day to wash your car. Both startups and large corporations need mobile developers who can write concise code and create applications with a friendly and intuitive interface.

Choosing an idea for an application is one of the most important and difficult tasks in the implementation of a product. It is necessary to think creatively and understand what people lack.